West Flagler Files Petition With US Supreme Court to Put Hold on Florida Sports Betting

West Flagler Associate officially petitioned the US Supreme Court to put a hold on sports betting in Florida. They plan to appeal their case to the nation’s highest court, but Florida was recently given the green light to launch sports betting after West Flagler’s latest appeal was rejected. The petition requests the court to place sports betting on hold in Flordia until their case can be heard.

The move has been expected over the last few weeks but is unlikely to be granted. The Supreme Court takes around 1% of all requested cases each year. On top of that, the US Department of the Interior (DOI) has been vocal about its opposition to the West Flagler’s legal efforts. They are the federal department that reviews gaming compacts for each state. 

With the petition filed, West Flagler will now need to file their petition to have their case reviewed. They have until November 20 to file and have made it clear they will meet that date. The group has also filed a case in Florida to push their argument into state and federal court.

Why the Supreme Court Could Take West Flagler’s Case

While West Flagler’s case focuses on Florida expanding gambling without a referendum, it is also about how sports betting fits with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The act gives local Tribes the ability to offer gambling on their lands. Florida cited this act when awarding the Seminole Tribe with sole rights to operate sports betting in the state. West Flagler has argued that this was done in error, as the act only applies to gaming on Tribal lands, which won’t include mobile sports betting.

The question now will be whether the lack of a referendum will motivate the court to take the case. Large “donations” were made to high-ranking officials in the state before sports betting rights were avoided, which does paint a troubling picture. 

Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, the result will have wide-reaching effects on sports betting in the US.